A bowl of yogurt a day could reduce the risk of developing diabetes by a quarter, according to researchers.

Scientists at Cambridge University have found that regular consumption of fermented dairy such as yogurt and fromage frais could cut the chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 24 percent over an 11-year period.

Lead scientist Dr Nita Forouhi, of the university's epidemiology unit, said: "At a time when we have a lot of evidence that consuming high amounts of certain foods, such as added sugar and sugary drinks, is bad for our health, it is very reassuring to have messages about other foods such as low-fat fermented dairy products which could be good for us."

Diets

The research looked at the diets of 4 255 people over a decade, 753 of whom went on to develop the disease.

Over three million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes, equivalent to almost one in 20 of the country's population.

Most of those suffer from type 2 - which |is strongly linked to lifestyle factors |such as being overweight or obese, lack of exercise and eating an unhealthy diet.

Forouhi added: "This research highlights that specific foods may have an important role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and are relevant for public health messages." - Daily Mail